If you’re looking for Ann Arbor Christmas Lights, we’ve got the ultimate list of where to find the best Christmas Lights Near Us! Christmas Lights in Ann Arbor definitely add some brightness to the short winter days. They make it so much easier to come home in the dark at 5:30p.
Our list includes:
- Drive-thru Christmas Lights near Ann Arbor
- Walk Through Christmas light trails near Ann Arbor
- Spectacular Individual houses or businesses with Christmas Lights in Ann Arbor, MI.
For years, there was no one destination that springs to mind as the “Griswold” house like in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. But, in 2021 we finally got one! Check out the home on Shadford Rd in Burns Park. There is also a house near Lawton that is synchronized to music. I saw a friend post that they were back in 2023! Find the details in the Standalone Displays Section below.
For individual houses and businesses, we really need your help. We have added a submission form at the bottom. So if you’ve seen a standalone or know of a big display not currently on our list, add it there for use to review. We will be checking in with the ones on the list for 2022.
Places to See Christmas Lights Near Ann Arbor
This map shows where to see Christmas Lights near Ann Arbor.
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Prepare for Looking at Lights
If you’re going to be out looking for lights, be sure to get in the mood first. Bring along some hot cocoa and get the holiday tunes cranking in the car.
Why not bring some lights with you? Get your glow on by wearing some lights
Disclosure: Links below may be affiliate links. Ann Arbor with Kids receives a commission on sales. We appreciate your support by shopping through our links.
Best Christmas Drive-Through Lights Near Ann Arbor 2024
Stay cozy and wam in your car at these drive-thru Christmas Light displays. Be sure to check each one for admission rates and whether advance purchase is available. Check out options like Wayne County Lightfest 2023, Michigan Speedway Christmas lights (Nite Lites at MIS), and Magic of Lights at Pine Knob. These are some of the biggest and best Christmas lights in Michigan.
Nite Lites at MIS
Drive through the holiday lights at Michigan International Speedway.
Admission Tickets can be bought online or on site. They accept cash and credit cards.
Take a break from driving with the Train Ride though the lights. The train is available Thursdays-Sundays with 6p & 7p rides on Thursdays and Sundays and 6p, 7p, and 8p rides on Fridays and Saturdays. Train tickets are $17.25/person and must be purchased on online in advance.
Only the MIS entrances from US-12 can be used for Nite Lites. From Westbound US12 use the Lot 8 Entrance. From Eastbound US12 use Graves Farm Entrance (gate 14)
At a Glance
Address: Michigan International Speedway, 12626 U.S. 12, Brooklyn, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025
Hours: 5:30-9p Sunday-Thursday and 5:30-10p Friday and Saturday
Price: $35/Car, $50/limo, motorhome, or mini-bus, $100/tour bus
Wayne County Lightfest
The Wayne County Lightfest runs Wednesday-Sunday from November 21 through December 22. They are also open on Monday, December 23 & Tuesday, December 24
Drive through the lights at Merriman Hollow Park.
Every night, Perrin Park will have a Santa mailbox and restrooms. This year the food truck area is expanded with 5 trucks with different types of fun.
Special Events:
- Santa will be at Perrin Park on Wednesdays December 11 & 18 (6:30-8:30p).
- Visit reindeer on Wednesdays November 27 and December 4 (6:30-8:30p).
Toy Nights are November 27, December 4 & December 11. Bring an unwrapped toy to donate instead of the admission fee.
At a Glance
Address: Wayne County Lightfest, North Merriman Road, Westland, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 21, 2024-December 24, 2024
Hours: 6-10p
Price: $5/car, $20/commercial van, RV, limo, $25/mini bus, $40/bus
Magic of Lights
Drive through the holiday lights at Pine Knob! You’ll enjoy the seasonal lights while staying warm and toasty in your car.
See your favorite holiday scenes and seasonal characters. The display uses LED technology and digital animations.
At a Glance
Address: Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, City of the Village of Clarkston, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 22, 2024-December 30, 2024
Hours: 5:30-10p. Closes at 9p on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Price: Advance Prices: $27.50/any day. $22.50/weekday(Sunday-Thursday). $65/limo (more than 3 rows of seating). $30/weekday, $35/weekend, $75/limo at gate
Sadly the Domino Farms Light Show for Christmas is no longer an option. From some research it looks like it ended in 2002, the year before I moved to Ann Arbor. So there will be no Domino Farms Christmas Lights in 2023.
Ann Arbor Christmas Lights: Walk Through Events
These events are walk through trails with lights. The group includes trails that charge admission and free walkthroughs featuring trees decorated by the community. Don’t miss the Glenlore Trails Aurora Christmas Lights in Michigan.
Wild Lights at Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoo is bedecked with millions of LED lights and over 280 sculptures at Wild Lights. The event is held on weekends through December 8, then nightly except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day through January 5.
There are millions of twinkling lights in more than 500 immersive displays throughout the zoo. There’s an interactive wishing tree, seasonal food & drinks for purchase, and warming stations with live entertainment. Don’t miss the magical photo opportunities.
Choose your ticket option to include just Wild Lights admission, a daytime zoo visit and Wild Lights admission, a picnic package, or the total experience package.
At a Glance
Address: Detroit Zoo, 8450 West 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, USA
Season: Permanently Closed – November 23, 2024-January 5, 2025
Hours: Admission from 5-8p or 5-9:30p based on day
Price: Lights only: $17-26; Zoo & Lights: $38; Picnic Package: $50-55; Total Experience: $70-75
Toledo Zoo Lights Before Christmas
Each year the Toledo Zoo celebrates the holidays with Lights Before Christmas. They add over 1 million lights to the zoo grounds and have over 200 illuminated animal images across the zoo.
Check out their newly redesigned Winter Village in the Amphitheater.
- Visit Santa from 4-8p daily. (through December 23)
- Ride the Ice Slide ($3/ride)
- Roast S’mores at a fire pit (buy at Sweet Shoppe)
- Shop seaonal Merchandise
- Enjoy festive beverages
Don’t miss these rides & activities
- Ice Carving Demo
- Reindeer Encounter (find more places to meet reindeer)
- Model Train Club Display in the Cafe
- Carousel – $3/ride
- Holly Jolly Express Train – $3/ride
Members receive free admission and members with the experience pass receive free rides.
At a Glance
Address: Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 22, 2024-December 31, 2024
Hours: Weekends: 3-10p, Weekdays: 3-9p – last admission 1 hour prior to closing. Note the zoo is not open during the day except for New Years Eve.
Price: $32/Adults, $29/Kids (2-11) & Seniors (60+)
Glenlore Trails Aurora
Glenlore Trails returns for the 2024 Holiday Season with Aurora.
Glenlore Trails is an immersive night walk where the forest comes alive with lights, sounds, and wonder. The event is family friendly.
Enjoy a visit with Santa from December 13-15 with select ticket types and times. You’ll meet Santa at the start of your slot before heading out on the trail..
On December 8, the Velvet Carolers will be singing from 6-8p.
At a Glance
Address: Glenlore Trails, 3860 Newton Road, Commerce Charter Township, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 15, 2024-December 29, 2024
Hours: 5:30-9p Thursdays-Sundays. Closed Thanksgiving & Black Friday.
Price: $25/adults (13-64), $15/Youth (4-12), $20/Seniors (65+)
Winter Wonder Lights
Head to Meadow Brook Hall on the Oakland University Campus for Winter Wonder Lights.
The 2024 edition features an expanded tour route and some new attractions along with old favorites.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance. Kids are free on select nights (Sundays December 1-29) with promo code MBHFAM24_A64. Thursdays December 5-19 are Value Nights with $19 adult tickets and $10 youth tickets.
Meadow Brook Hall also hosts Holiday Walk, an indoor daytime holiday event. Join them on Saturdays December 7-21 for Santa Saturdays. Santa will be available to meet and for photos.
At a Glance
Address: Meadow Brook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 29, 2024-December 30, 2024
Hours: Through December 15: Thursdays & Sundays 5:30-7:30p, Fridays & Saturdays 5:30-8:30p. December 16-30: 5:30-7:30p (closed 12/24-26)
Price: Adults: $23, Youth (3-12): $13. Military & Veterans: $19
Amazing Michigan Christmas Lights Beyond Ann Arbor
Are your travels taking you beyond Ann Arbor? Check out these other resources for Michigan Christmas Lights.
Holiday Light Trails
Several local towns are creating lists of their local homes and businesses that are decorated. We are sharing the lists here. If you visit and any individual house or business on the list is truly a standout, add it below for our standalone display.
Best Christmas Light Displays Near Ann Arbor
Individual homes are always the hardest for us to capture. We rely a lot on user feedback and self-reporting of homes. This section of our Best Places to See Christmas Lights near Ann Arbor will mostly be updated after Thanksgiving and continuously as we hear of displays.
Note, we list dates as December 1-31 for most of these. We don’t have exact dates and don’t guarantee that they will be operating on any specific night.
If you have a recommendation for the best neighborhoods for Christmas Lights near us, please use the form below to add a good neighborhood instead of an individual home or business.
Lohr & Textile
2022 Update – Will not have their typical display due to safety concerns with the new traffic light at Lohr & Textile.
2023: Drove by during day time and again saw no lights.
Every year the house at the corner of Mallard Cove Dr, Textile, and Lohr Rd is decked out for the holidays. The house is on the southwest corner of the intersection. If you are not turning on Mallard Cove, you can best see it heading west on Textile or south on Lohr.. If you are driving east on Textile, you will not get a great view of the front of the house.
At a Glance
Address: Mallard Cove Drive & West Textile Road, Pittsfield Charter Township, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 26, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: Dark
Price:
IHA WestArbor
The IHA West Arbor Complex on Jackson Rd has several lit displays along Jackson Rd. It certainly brings some holiday cheer to that section of Jackson Rd.
At a Glance
Address: IHA West Arbor Medicine, Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: Nightly After Dark
Price: Free
Shadford Dr
A homeowner on Shadford Dr in Burns Park shared their house with us in 2021. They’ve got tons of lights on the house and lit figures in the yard.
I have not driven by in 2024, but I have seen people post photos from this year.
At a Glance
Address: Shadford Road, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2024-December 31, 2024
Hours: 4:30-11p
Price: Free
Bazillion Lights
This house in Livonia is covered in a “Bazillion Lights”,. Not only are there a bazillion lights, they are animated to music.
Check out the video below from a previous display – all their videos seem to be from 2009. I am sure it is even better now.
Their 2024 season has been delayed. On November 30 they posted that they will be turning the lights on later in December than normal. We will keep checking for 2024 updates.
At a Glance
Address: Bazillion Lights, 29718 Robert Drive, Livonia, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2023-December 31, 2023
Hours: 5:30-9:30p
Price: Free
Blow molds and giant Santa skeleton
User submitted
On the first block of Parkwood ave off Packard on the left Skelly Santa and helper. A house further down on right has blow molds.
Also Brandywine is decked out.
At a Glance
Address: 2800 Parkwood Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 16, 2023-December 31, 2023
Hours:
Price:
Synchronized Lights & Music – 7th Street in Lawton Neighborhood
House on 7th just after you cross Scio Church, in the Lawton neighborhood. From 5:30-8 pm and synchronized to holiday music on 89.3. There are some Frozen and a hannukah song on the 30s.
At a Glance
Address: South 7th Street & Braeside Place, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 9, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: 5:30-8p
Price: Free
Overbrook Dr Blow Ups
User Submitted:
The house near 5200 overbrook dr has an amazing amount of blow ups and great lights!
At a Glance
Address: 5200 Overbrook Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2023-December 31, 2023
Hours:
Price:
Easthaven Animal Hospital
Every holiday season Easthaven Animal Hospital is draped in Green lights.
They are located on Huron Parkway just south of Washtenaw Ave, but you can see the lights from Washtenaw.
The lights are on for 2024!
At a Glance
Address: Easthaven Animal Hospital, South Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – November 17, 2024-December 31, 2024
Hours: Nightly After Dark
Price: Free
Galen Circle – Christmas Lights
A reader has let us know that the neighborhood has a few homes that are highly decorated.
At a Glance
Address: Galen Circle, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 9, 2022-December 25, 2022
Hours: Evenings
Price:
Ann Arbor Bed & Breakfast
Ann Arbor Bed & Breakfast can be driven by day or night. They have a vast collection of holiday inflatables in the yard – and on the building.
Last year, my personal favorite was the Millennium Falcon. I drove by this year, but didn’t get a chance to look and see if it was back this year.
At a Glance
Address: Ann Arbor Bed & Breakfast Inn @ Rackham Gardens, @Rackham Gardens Condominium, 921 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2022-December 31, 2022
Hours: Anytime. Inflatables were up in the afternoon
Price:
West Stadium & Arella
A house on Stadium near Arella Boulevard is all lit up. Drive by and check out all the lights and displays.
At a Glance
Address: West Stadium Boulevard & Arella Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2021-December 31, 2021
Hours: After Dark
Price: Free
Pamela Ave
Theres a house on Pamela Ave between Maple & Center Drive that is decked out in lights and displays in the front yard.
2024 Note: We drove down Maple at night and did not see it lit this year.
At a Glance
Address: Pamela Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Season: Seasonal – December 1, 2023-December 31, 2023
Hours: Night
Price: Free
Any Other Suggestions of Where to See Holiday Lights Near Ann Arbor?
So, what holiday lights near Ann Arbor have I missed? Where does your family like to go to see Holiday Light Displays? As you see new holiday lights, add them to the form below. That way we can continue to help everyone with where to see the lights near us.
Illuminate the Season: Christmas Lights Near Ann Arbor
